YouTube Driving

Sometimes, when I'm bored I go surfing the web for driving stories. Sometimes friends send me sites. Dave, a good friend of mine, who evidently spends far more time on the internet than I do, sent me a series of videos with the title, "Why Russians install DashCams in their cars." More specifically follow this adress:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/5RAaW_1FzYq?autoplay=1&modestbranding=!&rel=O&=

I must warn you that this series of videos will have your mouth hanging open with disbelief at the crashes and near misses that are caught on video. I watched them over and over again, each time catching some other detail.

It's carzy, but enjoy, but give yourself lots of time.

Copyright (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael

We will all know where the Radars are waiting for us!

In the interest of transparency the authorities have decided to abandon the practise of hiding radars to surprise drivers. Now we will be advised exactly whereever the mobile radars will be operated and when, as well as the fixed stations.

Why would they do this? I think because it's sort of a joke. Large signs exists to tell us that our speed is being monitored, and still people drive through the catchment zones well over the limit. So, in a way this will be a further experiement to see how many more people will be caught in spite of being told to slow down.

Seemingly, in countries around the world the accepted practise is to flash one's lights to warn oncoming traffic that the police are up ahead; and still people don't slown down to the legal limit.

What is wrong with us?

Copyright (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael 

Whatever happened to good old healthy Competition?

The cost of petrol for the car and truck in Spain is by no means the most costly in Europe, but it is expensive. In the time that I have been living here the cost has risen steadily from under a euro a litre to as much as 1.40 something. That has been a reflection of the underlying cost of Brent crude per barrel, so we have simply grinned and bore the cost. Perhaps we curtailed our trips by making certain that we got to do several things in one journey.

We didn't have much in the way of choice, but wherever and whenever we heard of a fuel station selling at a discount we all headed there. Then, things changed. Someone opened a fuel station where there were no staff in attendance, and the price per litre reflected the savings. Then, to top that, another chain opened with staff but at rock bottom prices at the pump. I have not looked back since.

The latest news is that those stations that are not matching the low prices are suing the owners for selling cut-rate fuel, and some communities are banning the selling of low cost fuel altogether. What kind of foolishness is that?

If the group of operators selling low cost fuel can do it, and they number several different companies, why not the others who insist on selling at the higher prices? I cannot understand the logic. I save about ten cents a litre, which I estimate will result in about 300 euros a year saved to be spent on car maintenance. Why would I not take that savings?

 I'm shocked by the action to restrict the competitive spirit, and also to be so blatant about goughing us motorists. I think it's time to grow up and act like businessmen and everybody lower your prices to a level that is finally fair for the consumer.

Copyright (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael

2015: New driving rules for Spain

The driving class of citizen seems to be a soft target in many ways. We are easy to impose new taxes upon, and it seems that we are constantly having to get accustomed to new rules. However, what I can't say it that all those rules are not necessary. There are those among us who by their stupidity bring ever more stringent rules upon us. When I see the things that some drivers get up to I don't automatically think we need a new rule for that, I think let's shoot the bastard.

Spain has been promising some reform for some time and it appears that these changes will go into effect soon. One of the most surprising changes is that where speed is checked by radar, whatever the limit posted is, should we pass that radar one point over the machine will flag us. Really? Didn't you think that was always the case?

It appears that in the past there has always been a discretionary allowance of about 10 kilometres to allow for the possibility that the system might not have been accurate. Well, they must have fixed that problem, so the limit posted must be obeyed. My problem is that the posting of signs is irrational and a setup to dump the driver in the soup. Some speed changes are so sudden you would have to stand on your brakes to slow down to the new limit. Bastards!

Another change I find interesting, because it allows members of the European Automobile Association to represent drivers who are engaged in disputes with the DGT. I have been wondering what uses a membership in such clubs had, as  the modern motoring policy seems to provide the services formerly provided, such as breakdown. Even providing directions via motoring maps is now available on GPS systems. I admit my knowledge of the full services provided by motoring  membership is limited, but at least we now know that your auto club is standing by to bail you out should you get into trouble with the law.

Speaking of trouble while on the road: It would perhaps be a good idea to repeat for your handy reference the following list of emergency numbers:

The general emergency number anywhere within Europe is      112

For Ambulance Service in Spain call              061

National Police of Spain  091

Local (Municipal) police in Spain  092

La Guardia Civil    062

Fire Service (Bomberos)  080

Medical Emergencies on the Costa Blanca 085

As you can see getting help is not an uncomplicated matter. Different numbers to call, depending on your need. I suggest posting this page in your car.

One other thing you might like to know is what happens when you get a motoring fine: if you suffer a fine of up to 299 euros it appears that you might not also lose points. A fine of between 300 -399 will also lose two points. Between 400-499 loses 4 points. Between 500-600 loses 6 points. However, if these are correct to begin with, remember things change constantly, so don't take these numbers as gospel. Try not to lose any points at all because getting them back would be like winning the lottery jackpot deliberately.

Copyright (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael                            

To be lost in a storm

The last week of January, 2015 has been one when Spain has been knocked about by very high winds, some of hurricane strength, and terrible flooding. This is a country unacustomed to dealing with such high winds, so we were not really ready for the damage that can be suffered at the mercy of this aspect of Nature.

Flooding is often the cause of the total loss of your car, and that's so sad. So many homes have a garage under the house, leading to the possibility of waking up one day and finding that the garage is now a swimming pool with your car under water. That's the sort of thing to reduce the most hardened man to tears.

I returned home on Thrusday the 29th January, after a day out and parked in my usual spot, which is to say under a tent surrounded by trees. The weather was temperate and the winds calm. However, as the evening wore on the winds began to rise, which caused me, out of an abundance of caution to move the car to a clearing. This is a routine precaution that I take, and I would do so even if I had to get out of bed.

That night the wind howled as I had never known it, with some gusts so strong that they were like giant hammer blows.  The night passed and I lost no sleep, but in the morning when I was leaving home I opened my eyes to a scene of total destruction. Had I left the car in place two and a half trees would have fallen upon it, as they fell upon the tent. My lovely car, upon which I depend so much, would have been a write-off.  I can't say that I was lucky because I deliberately moved the car away from harm, but it does underscore the point that it pays to be careful.

However, up and down the country so many other car owners were not so fortunate. Cars parked along the street were a common casualty as trees and power poles fell, crushing them like matchsticks. Just as I felt complete relief and joy to know my car is safe for another day, the opposite would have been those owners reaction. So, I have all those people in mind and I feel your pain. If there was nothing a person could have done to move to a safer place, and if you are in the city, you don't have a lot of options, except moving to underground paid parking perhaps, then you are at the mercy of the elements.

Life, is not fair, it's simply Life, and we take what comes our way.

Copyright (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael 

The Terror of the Boy Racer

To my eternal shame I admit to having been a boy racer in my youth. I believe at the time my whole structure was misaligned. My brain resided in my penis, and my head, where my brain was supposed to be collected fecal matter until it flowed out of my mouth. Inevitably I crashed and got banged up really good, but the net effect was to shake things into their proper places. Now I find it inconceivable when looking back on the total disaster that I was.

So, it was that I had some understanding for what was going through the mind of the boy racer I encountered this past week. There was nothing going through his mind. Firstly, it was raining, so instead of slowing down and having respect for the condition of the road, boy racer drove like the lunatic he is. He overtookd me on the crest of a hill with no idea of whether traffic was coming towards us. As good luck had it, nothing was coming so we all ducked that bullet.

I went into town and did my errand, but on the way back I came upon a crash, with police and ambulance in attendance. Who was involved was none other than boy racer. He had evidenly been into town and back, and was on his way back again into town. This time, driving fast on a notorious bend he spun out and crashed sideways into a truck that was an unmovable object, that left boy racer and his BMW in a very sorry state. He was being loaded into the ambulance when I drove by. Wonderful! His car looked like a total write off. I can only hope that he will be out of commission for a very long time so at least he remains away from behind the wheel.

I suppose that as young people we all go through various forms of self-destruction. If it is a part of our DNA to do such things there will not be a lot that we can do,except to survive, if we're lucky. It's probably some form of a culling of the species, but for those of us who survive our own experience we can only shake our heads and make tut tut noises. The other thing that we have to do is hope that when one of these kamikaze nut cases are coming our way that it simply ends up as an argument between that person and a tree, in which case the tree will win.

Life's funny that way!

Copyright (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael

Copyright (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael

Parking can be worse than Driving!

Unfortunately, due to a technical problem I can't share with you a picture that speaks more than a thousand words.

I chose to write about some drivers who are even worse at parking than they are at driving. This was because during the week I parked in an authorised parking area that does not have parking bays outlined. Somehow, four other drivers found it made sense to them to hem in myself and two other cars. I was looking for some sort of logic to try and understand how and why they would do that while I waited for one of the damned fools to come back.

I thought about a common practise that went on for years in Valencia City. In the city. you might have parralled parked your car along the curb, only to come back to find that another row of cars have parralled parked alongside your line. The idea was to leave their cars in neutral with the handbrake in the off position so that you could push all the cars that was necessary in order to get out. No one seemed to get angry. I guess they felt that next time it would the other person's turn to push.

I went looking for examples of really bad parking, especially that which showed a complete lack of care or concern on the part of the offending drivers. The picture I wanted to show you was of three cars that were hemmed into the disabled parking bays by two drivers who had deliberately parked so that it was clear they were causing great inconvenience. One of those cars was an Audi that was evidently driven by a person who had fecal matter where the brain would normally be.

Shame! Shame! Shame!

One thing I do not understand is, that when taking the picture of such a disgraceful thing, the number plate is digitallyy obscured. May I suggest that newspapers regularly run such pictures, leaving the plates unobscured and naming and shaming the car owners. It seems to me that in order to get people to be responsible for their actions the school of public opinion could be very effective. Obviously, if that person is allowed to simply drive away without any condemnation, they will repeat their thuggish actions.

I will finish by relating my favourite story: I was having a coffe at a cafeteria at a table alongside the roadway. A little farther along a man started honking his horn because someone had parked hemming him in. He honked his horn for about five minutes. A lady at a table two along from me got up, casually said goodbye to her companion, and to my astonishment she walked along to drive away in her car; the one that was blocking the man in. He noticed as well and got out of his car and they got into it. Yelling and screaming very foul words back and forth. Finally, he got back in his car, but she had something more to say to him, so she threw open her door just as another car came along and ripped the door off.

I hope she learned a lesson that day, but most probably that was asking too much.

Copyrigt (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael

A very bad start to the New Year

The period between January first and the seventh, covering the aftermath of New Year celebrations and the sixth, being the Reyes festival when the Three Kings visit the homes to give the children their gifts, was a time when things went horribly bad for many families. Fifty people lost their lives on the roads at a time when no-one should have ended their lives.

The formula for surviving such disasters is simple. Do not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs. You really do need your full sense of concentration because things change so suddenly. I do not even take my eyes off the road to operate my CD player, and I don't respond when my phone rings. No one ever needs to contact me instantly, although they may think so.

I feel saddened for the families that were afftected, especially the children. The worst death was that of a man who was playing the role of one of the Three Kings. His throne was caught by an overhead cable and he was toppled backwards and landed on his head. For the children, and their parents, watching this happen it was a calamity of the greatest proportions. That will be stamped on the minds of the children for the rest of their lives.

I hope we accept the warnings and that we conduct ourselves with care, caution, sobriety, common sense, and concern for ourselves and our fellow drivers. Nowhere is it written that we have to die while going about our normal daily business just because we are behind the wheel of our car.

Copyright (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael

Unlucky Nineteen: An Unwelcome upturn in the number of those fallen on the road!

This image suggests a better year for driving experience then the past year.

We have been given the figure of 1, 131 lives lost due to road crashes during 2014. For the very first time since the introduction of the points system, when there has been a steady decline in losses, this year saw a jump in the number from 1, 112 during 2013 to 1, 131 during 2014. Any which way we look at this situation it's a sad story. Many of the people who lost their lives prematurely were young people. Far too many of the lives were lost due to someone's total stupidity.  But somehow, seeing that the figure actually rose rather than another decline is particularly depressing.

There will be those who say, but yes, but remember there was a time when annual losses used to be 5,191. That was a time when the whole country found that number just totally unacceptable and undigestable.

There are reasons we return in the evening after a day of travel. The reasons are that everyone we encountered during the day were alert and focused, as were we. Everyone took care to be courteous and drove with due care and attention. Probably, we all decided that we would not drink then get in our car and drive. At the end of the day we all returned to our loved ones.

I am fond of pointing out that in my homeland of Bermuda, as pat of the New Year Eve celebrations, the government makes taxis available for revellers to leave their own cars and to ride home, without cost, just so that we don't have people trying to drive home drunk. There are also a lot of policemen around at parking lots, etc to "suggest" very strongly in some cases that you need to take a taxi sir, and here's one now. Get In!

Result: Not one single accident after midnight December 31/ January 1.

What a lovely way to begin the New Year.

Drive safely and carefully. 2015 could be a really great year for you, but only if you're alive to see it through.

Copyright (c) 2015  Eugene Carmichael  

Driving with Rewards

Its encouraging to be recognised for good driving habits.


I'm sure that other people share the same experiences as I do. When you find yourself thinking in a certain direction, and then you discover that someone else was on the same wavelength, but they actually did something about it.

For some time I have been thinking that perhaps there is nothing so fraught with rules as driving, and people just lying in wait for me to commit some kind of infracton. The relation between the police and the public seems to be completely adversarial. However, they police us with our consent, so I'm fairly certain we did not contemplate having them splitting our skulls, shooting us to death, or pulling us out of our cars to dump us in jail.

I do agree that we need to conduct ourselves with commonsense and courtesy toward our fellow drivers, so rules are important to guide us. But, it is all about rules and infringements.

Now comes along a television program through National Geographic called, "Under Control." I have to say that I am enjoying this program as they have tried some ideas that actually reward drivers respecting the speed limit, and other safe practices. In the test town the police are  noticing when people are naturally considerate and safe drivers, and they are issuing these people with Thank You certificates.

Imagine you are moving along at your customary pace and taking care of cyclists and pedestrians, when you hear a short burst from the police cruiser behind you. The first thing out of our mouths will likely be: "Now what the hell does he want?" The officer comes up to your window and says, "Good day, Ma'am, or Sir. I just wanted to thank you for driving with care and courtesy, and for being such a fine example to others. I present you with this certificate on behalf of the Commissioner of Police and all my fellow officers. Have a good day and keep it up!"

I think if that happened to me it would take me a litle while for it to sink in, and then you would see the biggest smile on my face. I would definately be encouraged to continue in the manner that got me recognised.

I think it might also go some ways to recognize the police as human beings and our fellow residents. Some times we, and they forget that their remit is to protect and serve us, their fellow law abiding citizens.

Copyright (c) 2014    Eugene Carmichael

Cancel Christmas?

Christmas is too wonderful to cancel because someone in the family lost their life in a road crash that could have been avoided. Most can be avoided. I always ask the question when I come upon a crash scene: Hundreds of thousands of cars have passed this spot without crashing into one another. Why not you two?

While watching the news there was a story of a car that had broken down on the highway in the left lane. The police were called, and during the time it took for the police to arrive that car sat there in what a lot of people call the fast lane without anyone crashing into it. That alone is amazing.

Finally, the police arrived and stopped in the left lane, with all their emergency lights working, to shield the stalled car. From the Dgt camera we see a car approach from the right hand lane and cross over the center lane to score a direct hit on the police cruiser. What the hell was that about?

At this time of year, whether a person is seeing the season from a religious point of view or not, the most important objective is to survive the fiestivities on the road. There is nothing more effective than someone in the hospital or the morgue to take the joy out of the season.

Of course, as we are in Spain we should be aware that there are many who will not have anything to celebrate except perhaps their faith. Faith is important, if you believe, but so many people have gone through many Christmas' without anything in the way of creature comforts. It would be good to be aware of our neighbours and to spread some goodwill if we can. Also, hopefully El Gordo will help people who really need it. (Like me.)

The best wishes of my family and myself are extended to all of you, dear readers, that you spend the holidays surrounded by love, and by giving love. A world without love is not worth living in.

May 2015 be a year of growth and excellent health for us all. Above all else, let's remember the thought for the day is: The most important thing is to return the way you left.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael  



All I want for Christmas is.....

this gorgeous baby to droll over and to love more than life itself!

This is the Masereti Quattroporta VI Generation.
It is a four-door sports luxury saloon that I dream of as though it were my woman. (Sorry Lorna)

Why on earth do I have such a yearning to own a Masereti? Probably because it is a rare breed. I already own a Jaguar, and that is a prestigeous name in the world of cars and I do adore my Big Cat. However, it is a classic that I drive only on very rare occasions, provided the sun is shining. My faithful Volvo does all of the heavy lifting day-to-day, but she is getting long in the tooth. I really do need to replace her with something new. I was first thinking that I should choose a Jeep. That brand name has the distinction of having served the armed forces of the United States in war times and acquitted itself well. I would be proud to be a Jeep owner, but I just can't get the idea out of my head that I really do want a Masereti. The sign of Neptune's Trident stands proud and alone among the upper quality range of cars, in my opinion.

I am looking at a secondhand 2007 model that is for sale. The model shown is the latest, but these are some of the features of the 2007 car. It has heated seats, electric front and rear adjustable seats, electric rear blind, in case the people in the back seats require privacy. Why would they? Make something up. Parking sensors, 19" alloy spoke wheels, HiFi radio and Cd player, of course.  Climate control is dual controlled, and the driver's seat has memory positions. The steering column is electronicially adjustable and is multi-functional, and the car has traction control.

Anti-theft features high volume siren and immobiliser. As an option I would also like to have ejector seats or hand locks with an automatic puncher in the gut that can be operated from a long distance.

In the technical department it has a 4244 cc engine that produces 395 bhp. Supposedly it will get you from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds, and will do a top speed of 167 mph.  I am not worried about that because at my age I need to slow the world down.

This one is advertised for sale at 18,000 Pounds, or I could buy a brand new one for about 100,000 pounds.

Santa, that last bit of information was especially for you.

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

More Spanish Rules of the Road to review.

Our bad driving habits become the norm.

Things are forever in a state of change when it comes to driving on the road. Things that were once tolerated have become objects of zero tolerance, so it makes sense to keep abreast of what's going on. When I first came to Spain fifteen years ago, many drivers went through the day in a constant state of inebriation. Now, that is not tolerated.

What about the Stop sign? A long time ago I was driving behind a car that went through the stop sign at about 30 kmh. The police were parked across the street and made no indication to go after him.  I concluded that the maximum speed per hour in my country counts as being stopped here. No longer! Periodically, the police target specific offenses and when it comes to bringing your car to a stop those wheels need to be absolutely still, neither rolling forward or backward. Stop means an absolute standstill. This is a problem far greater than anything else for a lot of us who have become complacent, especially if it is obvious that the road is clear. However, the law is the law, and compliance is what this is all about.

One other thing: For goodness sake, stop behind the line instead of poking your nose out until you can see clearly. By that time you may indeed see that you are about to get broadsided by a truck!

Speeding

This is even more complex than stopping and standing still. Personally, I am very good at driving at 80 or 100 or 120. The problem arises when we are supposed to slow down. When we see a sign mandating a lower speed, by the time we pass that sign our speed must not exceed the number. However, given the really dopey sign posting, in order to comply we sometimes would have to just about stand on our brakes to go from 70 to 50. There is one stretch of road when we are leaving a town with a 50 maximum. We are advised that we can take her up to 70, starting at the sign, but just as you get to 70 there's another sign that says 50. Oh shit! Clearly there was no need for the 70 sign. There are so many assinine situations like this, and sometimes the police lie in wait right there. Its a really easy catch, sort of like fishing in a barrel.

I can't say that I don't want the police to enforce staying within the speed limit. I drove with a friend the other day, at least I think he's a friend. We were in no hurry at all, but he drove at speeds up to 180 kmh. I was fairly certain that would have been my last day among the living. Even the ambulance doesn't travel that fast. Such stupidity!

Almost all car crashes involve inappropriate speed. That may not necessarily mean a lot of speed, but if conditions call for us to move at no more than 20 and we're doing forty, that's a problem going somewhere to happen.

Giving someone who has broken down a tow.

This was allowed at one time, although it was never a safe thing to do Now, because of modern cars that require the engine to be running to operate brakes and steering, it is no longer possible or legal.

Which brings to mind what to do if you are driving an automatic shift car and the gas pedal gets stuck. There is only one thing to remember to do and that is shift into neutral. The car will scream like a banshee but you will still be able to pull over to the breakdown lane and stop, before turning off the ignition. If you do anything else you will most likely end up dead. Remember, shift into neutral, let the engine make all the noise it wants while you drift to the side of the road, then turn off the ignition.

Then you contact your roadside breakdown service to come and put you on the back of the truck and haul you off to a garage. Nothing else will work.

We'll review some more of the rules that we have forgotton about or that practise has changed in future columns.

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

Time to review Spanish driving rules

Texting while Driving- Utter madness! Most likely the life that will be lost will be that of someone else.


Someone has kindly gone to the trouble to alert those of us in the Jaguar Enthusiast Club that we need to revisit Spain's driving rules. As time goes by we tend to forget the specifics and find ourselves creating bad habits. The model in the above picture is reflecting one of the most serious bad things a driver can do. If just speaking on the phone while driving is dangerous because it distracts us from concentrating on the road ahead, texting is just plain murderous and suicidal. Please don't do this.

I was glad to have these reminders because over time I have developed a really bad habit of cruising along the middle lane. My thinking was that this makes it easier for merging traffic, which of course it does, but the rule is that we cruise in the right hand lane by default unless we have to overtake. Here in Valencia, another bad habit has grown, that of overtaking along the right side. This is caused by driver impatience and by those of us, and we are many, who hog the middle lane.

Well, it seems that this habit is deemed to be dangerous driving and can result in time spent in jail, even if it does not cause someone else to crash.

Another interesting rule that has become muddled over time is that of driving the car of someone else. For so long we have been saying that provided that you hold a valid European driving license you can drive anyone's car. Well yes, but only with their permission. If the owner is in the car with you, no problem. If not, they must have your written permission in Spanish.

What happens when you are asked for your car? The person is always in a hurry and anxious to get going. All they want is the keys. They really don't want to hear, just a minute while  I sit down and write up a letter giving you permission. Well, tough, but that is just what they should have to do, otherwise it will be another act of kindness that will be punished.

Also, there is the matter of cyclists to take into account. This is a growing sport and exercise activity which means that we are encountering more and more groups of cyclists. They have every right to use the road, and for those of us in cars we have to learn to respect them and to give them space. To overtake them we should cross over to the other lane as though they were a car. And, of course, they can be strecthed out over a distance and that makes overtaking very tricky. If we are unable to overtake the lot, we should not even begin to do so.

I will highlight other rules as a reminder in the near future. For now, drive safely and turn your common sense on.

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

The Jobsworth in Action!

The Highway Toll Booth

During this Summer there ocurred a number of fires in Spain. One such fire required the assistance of all hands, so dangerous and enormous was it. It devoured a whole mountain and threatened hundreds of homes in the area with a city just beyond. In other words, as emergencies go, this was about as serious as it can get.

One fire engine from a community that was at a distance went speeding on its way to give assistance. The fastest route was along the toll road. As it neared the entrance to the toll booth the operator opened the barrier and let the engine through without having to stop or get a ticket. That made all the sense in the world. However, when they wanted to exit the toll road the story was very different.

This would be a really funny story were it not so sadly serious. Here you are, a fire engine with siren warning all to pull over to the side and clear a path for us because we are trying to stop a fire from doing serious damage. Traffic makes a path for you, but you arrive at the barrier and the operator does not lift it. The siren is still screeching but the engine has come to a stop.  "OPEN THE BARRIER!" demanded the driver. Sir, you have to pay, says the simpleton jobsworth.

To the astonishment of absolutely every person who witnessed the incident, and probably all who have read or even heard about it, an argument developed between the driver, together with the firemen, urging this appparently absolutely moronic operator to open the gate and let the engine proceed.

With precious moments slipping away the driver finally paid with his own credit card and the engine went on its way.

Of course, that was not the end of it. It has not been reported as to what the outcome of complaints made to the roads management was, but I would bet money that the operator did not lose his job. I think if management recognised that the man was incapable of making the decision to treat emergency vehicles with discretion he would not have been replaced. His union would not hear of it. If such vehicles are to be given free passage management would have to put that in writing and specific instructions given to all employees.

As a result of the delay that obstructed the arrival of the engine team we can reasonably assume that more damage was caused that otherwise might have been limited. Street Justice can only hope that the operator will learn to his own chagrin what can happen when unnecessary obstruction is put in the way of those who are trying to help.

"What goes around , comes around."

Copyright (c) 2014   Eugene Carmichael

What are we thinking when we overtake?

Sometimes I wonder!

What has got me thinking is this past week I have confronted two trucks on two seperate occaisions overtaking two cyclists on two bends. On both times I have been driven into the side of the road. Clearly, both of these drivers have excrement where they are supposed to have brains. Still, the question is a good one because drivers put themselves out into the lane of oncoming traffic, and that has killed so many innocent people.

I recall some incidents from the news that were so incredible I have never forgotten them. In the region of Torrevieja there arose a traffic jam. A man who was driving a right hand drive car suddenly decided to pull out into oncoming traffic, even though he could not see if anything was coming. An oncoming bus carrying school children slammed into his car, instantly killing his wife in the passenger seat, and their friend who was sitting behind her.

The bus went out of control and turned left into the line of traffic pushing a sports car carrying a male driver, who was killed, and his pregant girlfriend, who survived with her baby intact. Bus and car went through the guardrail and down an embankment, and the bus landed on top of the car. Inside the bus children were thrown about like toys. One of the girls went straight through the windscreen and had to be taken to hospital by air ambulance.

The driver of the car survived because he was on the right side of the car; however, no-one could find out what he was thinking because he lost his mind and is locked up as a criminally insane person.

A whole category of insane nutters are those who have overtaken me only to pull off the road right in front of me, causing me to at least take my foot off the gas, and sometimes I have even had to tap the brakes. To all of you brainless wonders I really do hope that you will do something, without injuring someone else, that causes you such pain, expense, and inconvenience that you come to see the folly of your ways. You are Public Enemy Number One! I hate you!

For ordinary people simply driving along the motorway, we choose a speed and we will inevitably catchup with other people who are driving slower. To overtake such slower moving traffic is no big deal, provided we overtake on the left. In the Valencia region it has become a habit of so many drivers to overtake along the right side outside of city limits where this is strictly prohibited, and is a very dangerous practise. Now what could possibly be going through those people's minds? There cannot be any justification for doing something like that. The person most at risk is the one passing along the right side, and as such is suicidal. Of course, it's simple laziness.

Finally, the national roads in Spain have all been called dangerous, when the roads themselves just sit there waiting to be used responsibly. They are all generally two lanes, one for each direction, or at least they carry two-way traffic. They are busy thoroughfares which mean that to place your vehicle in a lane for opposing traffic must only be done with extreme care. There is no room for error.

Death through head-on collision is the number one killer of the guilty and innocent alike. The stories reflecting such events make very grim reading indeed!

What the hell were they thinking?


Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

Beware Motorists, The highwayman is busy in your area!

There are people who want to stop you and relieve you of your valuables!

Everyday, seemingly ordinary people  arise, have breakfast and go off to work as part of the multitudes who do the same thing. However, this group work at stealing your valuables if you let your guard down for a moment.

I wish to warn you that an old con is back in play with a new twist, and is causing a lot of people serious problems.

The Setup

The target driver will be someone driving alone.

Usually the thieves need a busy parking lot,such as a commercial centre to make the setup. They will place a large nail against one of your tyres at an angle so that when you move forward you will drive the nail into your tyre causing a flat to develop. As a routine, you can foil this plot by simply rolling backwards before moving forward.

If you do not do this you will leave the parking lot to find that by the time you reach the first roundabout you have a tyre that is fully flat. Typically, the thieves will target the rear tyre on the driver's side so that your attention will be focused on that side.

The execution

When you pull over there will be a man standing on the side of the road. He will take notice and come over to offer assistance. What he is looking for is an opportunity to grab your personal bag and make a run for it. You can foil this if you lock the car when you exit, preferably taking your bag with you. You can always call for roadside assistance after placing your warning triangles and just sit in the car and wait.

What the thief stands to gain, and you have to lose

People who have fallen victim to this ploy have said that they lost money and other valuables, credit and debit cards, keys to their house and the house address, mobile phone that even stopped them calling the police, and their bank, etc; as well as various other personal stuff.

So, remember, whereever you are, roll back before moving forward, and lock your car when you get out, especially if there is someone around. As a more thorough security measure we should actually look at our tyres, both in front and behind to ensure that nothing has been placed there. It will only take a little time before the thieves are more cunning in thier setup.

Be vigilant!


Copyright (c) 2014   Eugene Carmichael

Far fewer people take driving lessons.

Heading for the open road


Sometimes here in Spain we find ourselves driving in the campo through orange or lemons fields, where there will be lots of fallen fruit on the path. That inspired someone to write a popular book called, "Driving over lemons." Now, some wiseass has come up with a title, "Driving over Spaniards." He has the title but the book hasn't been written yet. I hope it never will.

The Spanish authorities have been struggling with the same problem as other countries, that being rising congestion on the roads. Spain has partially confronted the problem by building a wonderful network of roads crisscrossing the countryside. Sometimes a driver can find he has the road all to himself. However, all of those wonderful roads eventually lead to towns and cities, where it all goes horribly wrong.

In the past it has seemed that the problem was addressed by making it very difficult to pass the exams. Firstly, it was necessary to study the rules of the road, followed by exams to determine how much the student had understood and retained. However, I found when sitting my test that it was more about my understanding of how the test was administered than what I had learnt from the book.

This had the effect of holding back the numbers of newly certificated drivers to go out and buy yet a another car to add to the clutter.  One examination center was testing about 5000 students per week, or 20,000 per month times twelve. If everyone who simply knew the information passed , that would add about a quarter of a million new drivers a year on the road. That alone might not be that bad, although it would still increase the clutter if they were only driving cars that were already registered. But, more than likely they would go out and buy their own cars and now we can quickly see the problem.

The economic crisis is generally thought of as a bad thing, but perhaps not down at Trafico. It is having a major effect on driving schools as new student enrolments have fallen dramatically leading to business closures. The impact is both immediate and potentially for the future. There was a time when it was difficult to find anyone of driving age who did not hold a permit. Having a vehicle to travel from one place to another is no longer a luxury. It is an absolute neccesity. For instance, from my village there are two bus journeys a day. One in the morning to take people to the next largest town for connecting bus and train service; and one in the late afternoon back into the village.

Who can conduct business with such restricted public service? If young people are unable to obtain their permits when learning ability is at its best, what are these same people to do as they grow into mature adulthood. True, employment opportunities are scarce but when you add to the mix that you are unable to drive, that is like another nail in the coffin.

This is just another of the sad, but unintended consequences flowing from out of control economic management.

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael   

Vanity Plates

Where's the Humour?

The problem with vanity plates is that most motorists want to give a funny mesage but the DMLV in every country of the world has no sense of humour.

Here in Spain we don't do Vanity plates, so it's not a problem, except by error. We have four numbers followed by up to three letters. By converting to English we can make all sorts of meanings from letters that begin with F. There are actually cars driving around with the letters FU, and nobody even blinks, except the British and Americans. In fact. English swear words in Spain have no meaning or offence at all. Spanish swear words don't offend even British Nuns, although we hear them on television news and talk shows.

I have seen the letters HA, as in Ha! My own letters are ES, as in the letters used to express España.

I think in countries that allow it, probably the most overused or abused theme is sex. "IM2SEXY" or "ILVSEX" or "SEX4ME" are high on the list of wishful thinking.

What made me think of this was I found myself behind a car with the plate that read, "HMM", as in Hmm!

I would pay for that one.

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

There is nothing so sad as a sunken car

To find this when you come back to the parking lot must be the nightmare of all nightmares for drivers.

My country is just waking up to the aftermath of extensive damage caused by Hurrican Gonzalo, a category four hurricane. With so much to take in at once, the combination of damage to the house, the garden, the estate road, and the car must be overwhelming. Of course, there are those people who own both a car and a boat, especially a luxury boat. The human psyche is not designed to cope with that type of tragedy.

Some of us just get so carried away with our cars. For instance, I belong to a motoring society that goes well over the topic by being super car proud. We drive our classics, but only on sunny days. We take them home and we wash them, then we carefully park them in the garage, and then we cover them.

If our cars were actual women, having received such loving attention from us, of course they would want to have sex with us. The motorcycle lot are no better. I was once a member of a Goldwing club and the pampering our bikes got was just silly.

So, we lavish such attention on our cars and bikes only to either be involved in a crash, or worse, to have a deluge occur resulting in submersion.

My pride and joy is a clasic Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign that is in showroom condition. I was told when I bought it that no one had ever sat in that car with dirty shoes, not even the mechanic. What must it be like to come back to the car and find it full of mud. My cream coloured seats and mats destroyed forever. I truly do believe that I would simply turn and walk away. Like a disappointed lover on finding the love of my life had been with another man. She's damaged and dirty. I shall retire to my cave and have a good cry.

I sincerely hope that not too many people lost their cars, and their sanity  in this manner during the Bermuda hurricane.


Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

The loss of Jan de Jonge

The Last Hurrah!

Jan de Jonge considered me to be his friend, and I considered that to be a great honour. A couple of years ago I wrote about Jan and his hobby of racing MGB cars, of which he had seven  at the same time. Jan was a jeweller by professon, but he absolutely had a passion for MGB's. He was a member of the MGB racing community, and in that he was in good company. One of those against whom he raced was none other than Mr. Bean, a.k.a. as Rowan Atkinson.

Jan took early retirement a few years ago to enjoy life away from the stress of his profession, which appears to us laymen as being a gentle art, but which  I am assured can be a real headache. His days were kept busy, either preparing to race, or racing at home or abroad, including in England. When he was not doing that, he was working with his friend, Robert in rebuilding MGB's that were the worse for wear. The car pictured above was the last one that he rebuilt and finished just ahead of his demise. It is truly a gem!

Jan knew sometime ago that he was seriously ill. He underwent treatment that weakened his physical self, but not his spirit. Oh, he had his good days and his bad ones, but on balance he never lost his sense of humour. He lived in Holland, and to amuse himself he bought two cars recently, because he could not decide between them. He bought the James Bond brand, an Aston Martin, and he also bought a new model Jaguar. How on earth do you choose each time you leave the house between those two, I just don't know.

In early August my wife told me that we were going to be going on a  journey. I never ask where, or how, or why. However, for some time I had been thinking that I really must make the trip to Holland. Without consulting me, or not having any connection to Jan's illness, my wife had chosen a trip to Amsterdam. So, it was a complete surprise to me that I ended up at Jan's house, surrounded by all my Dutch friends, and I also got some one-on-one time with Jan.

Even more surprising was that he and his wife had decided to visit their holiday home that is next door to ours here in Valencia. They arived on the Thursday and we followed on the Friday. More quiet time was enjoyed between us over several days. We talked about death as not being a permanent state; and that our personal energy, accumulated knowledge, our talents, and even our personality are all recyclable, and are passed on to the new generation. In that regard we were here before, we are here now, and when we step through death's door we step into the next adventure. We are living eteranl life in the best way there is. Our lives are a serial story.

Three weeks later, after leaving Valencia, Jan passed away in his sleep, unafraid, peacefully, and I think, comfortable in the journey he was about to take.

He was one of those persons who made a lasting impression upon everyone he met. He was just such a pleasent man who never needed to raise his voice, and in his going he has left a surprising void where we did not expect.

"Jan, it was my great pleasure in getting to know you. I truly enjoyed the time we spent in each other's company. I'm very sorry you had to take your leave so early, but I feel certain we will recognize each other in the next life that you have already started. There is no point in me wishing that you Rest In Peace, because I know you will keep busy doing something that you love in your new body.

I do join with your family and all your friends in missing you!"

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

Cruisin

Looking Good!

We all buy the car that best suits our own personality. Ideally we should look cool while driving it. As young men we like to go cruising in our chick magnet because it feeds our massive egos. Well, that's life. The girls do the same thing and the world goes around.

From my youth comes a really sad tale that involves a man who was gay. This is not about gay bashing, it is simply a story about one very sad and lonely man. This particular man would drive up and down the country trying to give a ride to young boys standing at bus stops. At times you would be grateful, especially if it looked like rain.

Once you were in his car he was the essence of a gentleman. First he would start with small talk, but before long he was into what he needed and hoped you would help him with. I have no idea what his statistic was between those who said drive on, versus those who demanded that he stop this car. He could be seen cruising for many years. I used to catch the bus regularly. I made the mistake of getting in his car once. I kept him talking until he got to where I needed to get out.  I told him that I thought he was a very nice, but creepy man, and that I felt sorry for him. Clearly he was unhappy, and that his lifestyle was a cause of problems.

I also asked him to remember me because I really didn't want him to offer me a ride again. This worked for a while, but eventually he forgot who I was and stopped to offer to take me where I had to go.

Wonder whatever happened to Mr Creep Crawly?

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

Gross Abuse of Power?

Justice for All!

Firstly, readers are reminded when passing through an area of roadworks, whether lines have been painted orange or not, that we are obliged to have our lights on regular beam, just as we would do if the road had been modified from one way to temporary two way traffic.

The Costa Blanca News has reported an incident that seems to me to be gross abuse of power. It started with the police issuing a fine to a motorist who failed to turn on his lights while passing through an area of road works that was indicated by orange colored lines; and presumably work being carried out. The man was fined eighty euros with a 50% discount which he received by promptly paying the fine.

Time passed, when suddenly his bank account was frozen due to an embargo placed upon it due to a notional debt of 200 euros arising from the same traffic incident. This arose because the settlement of the fine had not been deemed satisfactory because trafico had decided that he had not been fined enough in the first place, so they arbitraliy increased the fine without informing him. Added to that they have assessed late payment interest that they have simply deducted from his account.

This of course raises the question who sets the level of fines and how are they set? I imagine that the police are as baffled as everybody else. Someone seems to think this is either very funny, or that they are a dictator. This case should be heard in open court and the person behind the pilfering of this man's account be required to explain themselves.

We live in a civilized society where the majority of us try to conduct our business and our lives within the law. That applies to everybody, and especially to those in authority whom we hold to a higher order. It is clear to reasonable people that something out of order has occurred and the citizen needs to be made whole.

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael  

It had to Happen!

The arm of a Dummy


We have all seen those drivers who cruise along with their left or right arm (depending what side the steering wheel is on) carelessly hanging out of the car window, sometimes with a cigarette in hand, or at other times gesturing as they have a conversation with their passenger.  I was following just such a driver recently when we were faced by an oncoming massive truck. It didn't occur to the car driver to pull his arm in.

I have been watching a National geographic program recently called 1000 ways in which to die. Other than being gruesome it really is a good program from the standpoint of pointing out the importance of thinking before we act. To take just a second to ask ourselves whether what we are about to do makes sense could make all the difference.

A classic personal example is something I do a lot. As I get to travel along certain roads and I get to know those roads well, I assess the danger potential from the standpoint of what could possibly happen. There is a long, almost straight dual carriage-way road leading up to my town. There is usually a temptation to put the pedal down as there are generally no police around. However, except the first time that I did it I have resisted a second experience because along that road there are several entrances from the fields.

Sure enough, I came upon a bad crash where one car was overtaking another only to crash into a thrid car that was entering the main road, but he had stuck his nose out too far. It was bound to happen, sooner or later.

Along our three kilometre estate road there are three stop signs that are habitually ignored. I have seen several near crashes, one involving a police car into which I would have crashed had I not taken the precaution that the other driver might not have stopped. Last month there occurred a broadside crash that brought an ambulance and three police cars, so complicated was it. That was bound to happen sooner, or later.

Now, the inevitable has happened. A passenger in a car travelling with his arm dangling out the window had it ripped off as the car passed too close to the side railing which acted like a razor blade. This is even worse than being the driver and was like just asking for it to happen. He was on the land side and he was not in control of the vehicle. Any movement by the driver to give more space to oncoming traffic could have been the cause of being right up against the railing. Apparently there was no damage to the car, so had the passenger had his arm in the car there would have been nothing to talk about. Now we have an example to quote to warn others not to do the same thing.

His arm was found and an attempt was considered for reattachment, however, it was too badly damaged and had to be discarded. So, this is a cautionary tale to us all.

Another thing that just has to happen will take place on an old fashioned train where you can open the windows and stick your head out to get a better view. Ugh!

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael 

Deaths on the Road: More bad news!

Summer Traffic


The Costa Blanca News has just reported something we didn't want to hear: deaths on the road from Summer driving increased within the Valencia Community by 107%.  Year over year (July and August), fifteen more people gave up their lives during those two months, from 14 lives lost in 2013 in 12 crashes, to 29 in 15 collisions in 2014.

This is such a tragedy because we have been doing so well as losses through driving have been steadily falling. The one thing that can be said on a positive note is that the national trend is still down over last year at the same time, so hopefully at year's end we will be able to draw some comfort from lower figures overall.

To die as a result of driving usually means that someone failed to do what should have been done, or did something that he should not have. A simple example is a failure to take care if you are a cyclist or motorcyclist to be sure to be seen, in order to lessen the chance of being struck by a car. It has been very noticable to me this year how a person on a bike just disappears into the landscape if the car driver is wearing sun shades. Such glasses are necessary to avoid being blinded by the sun, however, they do dampen the image generally.

We notice that the police, emergency personnel and road crews all wear reflective apparrel that stand out against the general landscape and identify them as humans. I know no-one pays the least attention to what I say, but in the interest of self preservation I would think that each individual would like to lessen becoming a part of such heartbreaking statistics.

I'm just saying!


Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

BE SEEN TO BE SAFE !

An Extremely Important Cautionary Tale!

You are looking at the beginning of a guard rail over a bridge that became a railroad rail.


I have to ask you to use your imagination. During the week I came upon a most unusual accident scene. Unfortunately, I was not able to stop and take a foto because it had just happened and there were so many people in the area, I just had to keep going.

Apparently a car was travelling in the direction shown in the picture, but the driver evidently took his or her eyes off the road and drifted over to the right. The front right wheel became entangled in the rail and that acted as a guide driving the car along it and upwards. At some point the car spun around 360 degrees, pointing the car in the direction from which it had come.

The back wheels went over the rail, as well as the front left wheel, leaving only the front right wheel still firmly entangled with the rail while the rest of the car was hanging over the abyss. Fortunately, it was the gradual beginning of a 15 metre drop. However, I imagine if you were in the car it would have felt a lot different.

As an accident scene it presented an incredible sight. I think there were still people in the car as I passed as there seemed to be considerable activity around it. I have no idea whether anyone was injured, but it's a safe bet that those involved would have been extremely shocked.

There are numerous places where guardrails are tapered down into the ground as this one is. In many cases I have seen them turned at the end to avoid them becoming some kind of skid. That's a  lot safer than the blunt end that could impale a motorcyclist.

How does it happen that a car can drift off to the right or left to such a degree that it gets into such trouble? If this was a case of children in the back seat that  attracted the attention of the driver who turned his head to the extreme right, that action would have pulled the car to the right, and the rest is now history. Many years ago, I came upon a car along a straight road that had flipped onto its roof. The driver had no idea how it happened. One minute he was talking to his girlfriend in the passenger seat, and the next the car was on its roof.

The moral of the story is that when driving we really do need to keep our eyes on the road ahead. We only get to move our eyes and head within a very small arc to the right or left.

The penalty for ignoring this rule of the road can be very severe indeed, including head-on collisions and death!

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

Summer Driving

Everybody's headed out of town


My wife and I have done road trips during the Summer, but we leave after the mass exodus from the city, and we come back before everyone else. Consequently our experience is much like every day driving. However,  family vacation driving during June, July, and August can be a nightmare. Firstly, it seems that drivers think they cannot have a good time if they don't gulp down great quantities of beer or alcohol. Then, because the car is loaded with the kids they will almost certainly get on the nerves of the driver, but he or she has to stay concentrated on what they are doing.

The death on the roads during Summer attests to all the things that can go wrong. What a shame because people are in pursuit of leisure and pleasure. Instead their lives are ended.

Recently, a car carrying four men was completely demolished by an oncoming truck because the driver fell asleep. He may have been one of those drivers carrying goods to a supermarket that operate on a just- in- time inventory system. Such systems usually work well, but if things go wrong for the trucker carrying replacement goods he may have to push extra hard to make up time. Falling asleep could result, ending in lives lost.

Another crash occured on the roundabout at the entrance into Chelva on the CV-35. Three people were killed instantly in that case, plus another person was taken to intensive care. Traffic was backed up for over 12 kilometres for several hours in the blazing afternoon sun. Ten minutes after this crash at 15:30, another calamity occurred when a truck and trailer overturned on a paralell road that completely blocked all traffic.

When reading about these incidents the thought that occurs to me,other than the impact on the victims and their families, is how did the other motorists cope? I suspect that most of us normally jump into the car and set off without first thinking about water and other neccessities if we get caught in such a jam.

Invariably these things happen away from built-up areas, so you wouldn't have the opportunity to just pop across the road and buy water, or to use the toilet.  Of course, whether you find yourself stuck in a traffic jam or an elevator the first thing that occurs is the need to take a piss.

We humans are funny that way. When faced with some kind of emergency we immediately need to intake or output water. Go figure!

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

A City of Bikes

There were only two other bikes here when I left mine. Now there are 2,500.

It has been fifty years since I last visited Amsterdam. Only two things stood out in my memory. One of them was the concentration of bikes. We have become so accustomed to cars everywhere that we forget about the precious few countries that turn commuting into an exercise regimen. In all those countries where people are routinely obese, we could learn a lesson.

It is good to see people using bikes to travel around, but there is a downside. If you are a pedestrian the experience is a lot like being surrounded by a swarm of flies. They are silent and they are everywhere. Before you move your feet you have to look all around you, and you will surely spot a bike coming towards you.

It took a little while for me to notice that inspite of so much traffic, there are no STOP signs in Amsterdam. Tolerance is the watchword of The Netherlands, but this may be taking things too far. Having said that, the system does seem to work. There are a lot of close calls, of course, so much so as to be routine. However, I never observed a crash, and that included the struggling tourists.

The Netherlands is a curious country in that most of it is below sea level. The Dutch have brought water management to a fine art  The country has suffered floods in the past but has learned from such events. The fact that it is so flat is an open invitation to every citizen to have a bike. Everybody does, apparently, because there are 16 million inhabitants and 16 million bikes.

Cycling is not below the dignity of anyone. Government Ministers, including the Prime Minister can be seen cycling about, as does everyman in the street. It is good exercise and probably leads to Tall Person Syndrome, as perhaps the world's tallest people can be found in Holland. These are the people who are leading the way in the continuing advance of evolution.

In the midst of  the seven million bikes in Amsterdam, there are likely to be about 700,000 on the road at any given moment. However, I still managed to have very pleasent and close encounters with the latest in Jaguars, an Aston Martin, and a Masareti. I am convinced that is The Future; My Future.

It makes for an interesting comparison when thinking of future motoring being driverless cars. Holland seems to ask the question: "Yes, but what about exercise?"

The other thing that I remembered from fifty years ago was the sight of women sitting in windows selling sexual encounters. They are still there. Some things don't change.

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

Near to Home

Many crashes occur close to home

It is a well known fact that many so called accidents occur close to home. That may be because when we start our journey we may not be fully prepared, and in the process of making those last minute adjustments while actually underway our attention is distracted and we slam into someone or something.

Conversely, when nearing home after a long drive we start to relax within sight of home. We allow ourselves to become distracted and before we know it tragedy strikes. I remember all too well the case of an America's Cup worker who was on his way home on his bike at night. Within sight of his apartment block, with his wife and children sitting on the balcony, a car backed out into the roadway and directly in his path. He rode straight into the car and was killed instantly.

His wife didn't realise what was happening. She only knew something terrible had happened when all the emergency vehicles gathered. Slowly the realization sunk in because he was now late in coming through the door.

Another reason why crashes happen close to home is because the topography is familiar to us to the extent that we are contemptuous of our surroundings. We drive as though we own the road. That's what appears to have happened on our estate road recently. The road is winding and in very bad condition. There is a small bridge over a little riverlet, and there is also a stop sign that is near universally ignored.

Then, one day, one driver ignored the stop warning as another driver was passing and a crash occured which left one car looking very much like the car in the picture and the other ended up in the little river among the weeds. At least one person went to hospital as when I came upon the scene there were two Guardia Civil cars and one Policia Local vehicle, plus the ambulance.

By the time I returned home all was back to normal, including the crazy drivers who ignore the stop warnings, and who race over the potholes as though they own the road.

No one will be surprised when the next crash occurs. I promise to do my best not to be a contributor.

Copyright (c) 2014  Eugene Carmichael

The Predictable Motorist

Everyone's a Formula One Driver

There are many nationalities that drive on Spain's roads, but they have all blended into one predictable personality. He, it's usually a he, can be counted on to do the following things:

-As we go around the roundabout he will cut across rather than follow a semi-circle path. The car in the extreme right lane can fully expect to be cut off by the driver in the lane next to him when entering the straightaway.
_ The driver in the extreme left lane, especially when there are six lanes, can be expected to cut across the other lanes because he wants to go to the right. The driver in the extreme right lane can also be expected to do the reverse.
-The driver who overtakes you just ahead of an exit can be expected to take that exit.
- The driver who overtakes several vehicles in a row can be expected to then exit the highway in full view of everybody he just overtook.
- The driver who overtook every car, truck, and motorycle he came upon can be expected to reach his destination, only to sit down and put his feet up.
-The driver behind you will overtake you just because?
-And, when he is finally booked by the police for something ridiculous and loses his license, he will ask with great indignation: "Why Me?"


Copyright (c) 2014    Eugene Carmichael

An Unhappy Statistic!

No one can do these two things efficiently at the same time!


Deaths on the road have been steadily declining since the introduction of the points system. A significant 223 fewer people lost their lives in 2013 compared with 2012. That was 223 fewer funerals; 223 fewer families who did not have to cope with such tragedies. In fact, overall, Spain is doing really well when compared with the rest of Europe.

The death toll on Spanish roads per milliom population stands at 36, compared to 52 for other European countries as an average. In my view this problem is totally controllable. Nowhere is it written that when we get in or on our vehicles we have to die. If we all drove soberly and without allowing any other thing to impair our judgement, we will all complete our round trips safely, as most of us do everyday. That still means that we have to be vigilant where there is bad road design that encourages crashes. We still have to maintain our vehicles in good running condition, and we have to avoid driving when we are not fully capable.

Almost half of all road deaths are caused by alcohol or drug consummation, but on a bright note I am becoming aware that there seems to be a growing number of people who choose not to drink if they have to drive. We simply value our license and our cars, and we are also realizing that we don't have to drink to have a good time.

However, we have reached the midway point for 2014 and the number of highway deaths are ahead of last year. We are now in the midst of holiday road trips, so this is worrying. There are changes proposed that when implemented may have a negative effect. We will just have to see how things develop, but any increase in deaths while driving will come as a major disappointment.

Drive safely!  The life you save may be your own.

Copyright (c) 2014   Eugene Carmichael

Using a 4X4 for what it was designed for.

Sunset from the Top of the World: Photo by Lorna Carmichael


My son's first car is a Nissan 4X4. It is older than he is, and it's as tough as a fighting bull. We learnt to drive off-road over terrain we thought was impossible. We did that because he has a  love of the mountains. In fact, he is in training to become a certified mountain guide. For a young lad who was born in a country, Bermuda, that does have hills, but no mountains, this is a quantum leap forward from anything he would have done had he remained in Bermuda.

He invited his Mom and myself to see the sunset from the top of a mountain range. Naturally we agreed, and so we set off toward the evening. Along the way we found ourselves alongside many shiny 4X4's that would never go anywhere near a real mountain road. Such roads are not paved, are full of potholes, many with water in them, which means mud. Many people buy big 4X4's to make the school run. The best thing I can say about that is that they do provide good defense against other traffic, but otherwise they have no intention of going seriously off-road. 

On the run up to the top of the Sierra Calderona we switched to 4X4 mode, and the car rode over rocks and roots and big ruts with absolute ease. My son has made this run several times so he has his favourite spots where we closed all the windows for a run through the mudbaths. Of course, as occupants of the car we got thrown around a bit. You had to hold on tight, but finally we came to one of the many lookout points.

The view is truly breathtaking. From that point all Valencia city can be seen, as well as north along the coast and far south. Then, as promised, we took in this spectacular sunset across the top of our world. There are many people who were born in this region, who have lived all their lives in this region, and have never seen this sight. For us it was a real privilege.

It seems that there is a seperate and really special group of car owners who form a club of  adventurists who have found out how diverse Spain really is. That only becomes apparent once you get off the beaten track.

To discover the real Spain you may have to trek through the mud; to cross over a river or two; and to get high in the mountains, high above the crowd where the select group spend their time. Once in a while I get to see a 4X4 with a snorkel that is covered in mud, and I have to ask myself; I wonder where he's been? I bet he has some interesting stories to tell.

Copyright (c) 2014   Eugene Carmichael